Is it bad to step on gas in 5th gear??? - Dorkiphus.net
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Old 10-04-2020, 04:30 PM
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Default Is it bad to step on gas in 5th gear???

Let's see if I can give a short version?

I posted something on a VW GTI forum about encountering a problem when accelerating in 5th gear. Among the responses were admonitions against stepping on the gas in higher gears. I got no real explanation why, but it seems there are concerns that doing this puts undo stress on the clutch and/or flywheel. Presumably more than stepping on the gas in a lower gear. I have never heard of such a thing.

So, if I am on a highway, doing some speed at 3K RPM in 5th gear, and I step on the gas to accelerate, am I doing some particular harm to the car? If there is some urgency, such as passing a car on a two-lane road, I would probably drop a gear. But there are plenty of times that I want to scoot, but don't feel the need for a downshift.

FYI, the problem I encountered was a sudden drop in RPM, as if the nannies cut in for some reason. If you have some time to kill and want to read the whole discussion, here is a link: Mk7forum.
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Old 10-04-2020, 04:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Hubley View Post
Let's see if I can give a short version?

I posted something on a VW GTI forum about encountering a problem when accelerating in 5th gear. Among the responses were admonitions against stepping on the gas in higher gears. I got no real explanation why, but it seems there are concerns that doing this puts undo stress on the clutch and/or flywheel. Presumably more than stepping on the gas in a lower gear. I have never heard of such a thing.

So, if I am on a highway, doing some speed at 3K RPM in 5th gear, and I step on the gas to accelerate, am I doing some particular harm to the car? If there is some urgency, such as passing a car on a two-lane road, I would probably drop a gear. But there are plenty of times that I want to scoot, but don't feel the need for a downshift.

FYI, the problem I encountered was a sudden drop in RPM, as if the nannies cut in for some reason. If you have some time to kill and want to read the whole discussion, here is a link: Mk7forum.
All depends on your RPM/Torque band, if you are lugging at 2K RPM not going to go anywhere. Car only knows it's RPM band doesn't know the gear, so lugging in 3rd or 4th or top, no difference. I know to check on a slipping clutch top gear low rpm and accelerate and it will slip obviously to sound and feel if slipping
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Old 10-04-2020, 06:42 PM
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Quote:
admonitions against stepping on the gas in higher gears
you read it on the interwebs, it has to be true!

stress on flywheel? good one

more than likely you could cause pre-ignition issues and it would have to be pretty bad to cause mechanical damage but spark plug or even piston damage could occur. Think trying to climb a mountain in 6th from 2k rpm. With forced induction the risk is higher, but knock sensors arent exactly new and work up until abuse.
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Old 10-04-2020, 08:41 PM
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Really don’t think it matter so much with computer controlled cars. Back in the day you might get bucking or hesitation which long term is bad. Or in high torque cars w/worn clutches. Which I’ve proven on several occasions..... back in the day!
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Old 10-05-2020, 07:51 AM
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The car is ruined, junk I tell you. Best to scrap it and get a real car
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Old 10-05-2020, 07:59 AM
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I read the same drama with my Civic Si on the Honda forums. Lugging is bad, yes, but @3K? that's not lugging. At 1500? that's lugging. Some on the Honda forum argued the cars super low tq curve put undue stress on 5th and 6th gears when asking for full acceleration below 2K rpms. But as you mention, if you are really going to summon power, you would downshift 1-2 gears to get the revs/boost up and go for it.

But, you might want to take Karls advice.. Its just a piece of fragile German crap
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Old 10-05-2020, 09:35 AM
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Simple solution.....don't use 5th gear.
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Old 10-05-2020, 09:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HoodPin View Post
Simple solution.....don't use 5th gear.
Under 100 mph
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Old 10-05-2020, 11:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick3000 View Post
The car is ruined, junk I tell you. Best to scrap it and get a real car
I'm still thinking of setting up a Go Fund Me page for the replacement of my 996. If I do that I will let you know, and I will be happy to accept large contributions
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Old 10-05-2020, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HoodPin View Post
Simple solution.....don't use 5th gear.
Actually, with the cars I have owned that had/have six-speed transmissions (Jetta TDI, 996, 325i, and now GTI), I often skip 5th gear altogether. Most of the time when I am increasing speed to some sort of highway speed, I go straight from 4th to 6th. I don't really see much need to have more than five gears.

I remember Click and Clack joking about using gears 1, 3 and 5 on certain days of the week, and 2 and 4 on others.
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